Strange Colored Tegu?

[Seitz]

Hey Everyone,
I had a question about my tegu. Last year I purchased a black and white argentine tegu from LLL Reptiles. The tegu has grown a lot but has a strange color that I've never seen before. My tegu has a deep orange color on the bottom of it's body. He has the normal Black and white color on the top and on his legs and tail however underneath his mouth stomach and legs he has this orangish coloring. I was wondering if any of you know what this is? Thanks.

[laurarfl]

Just normal color variation. I also have a female with a nice orange belly.

[Pikey]

it's normal, a lot of tegus get the orange belly. most get it during winter months and lose it in the summer, but some will keep it year round.

[the enigma]

Yep My tegu started out with a pinkish belly and ended up orange.

[GraphiK]

My Tegu has a yellowish-orange belly as well. Anybody know the actual reason for the color change?

[Pikey]

i've read everything i've been able to get my hands on & even the many articals by Bert L. and have never found any reason other than it's mostly related to hibernation.

[the enigma]

That would make sense.

Could you give me the links for the articles by Bert. I love his stuff but I can't find much. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.

[laurarfl]

I don't know if I'm quoting it correctly, but Bobby and I discussed it over the phone and Bert's orange bellied tegus were attributed to the Alabama clay around hibernation time. One of my tegus had more orange on her belly a few years ago when she was younger, but I never noticed a change around hibernation time.

[Pikey]

most of the stuff I've read by Bert are old magazines, Yeah boby told me that too, but only said it was the 2 tegus that were all orange were do to the clay, but why only 2 tegus were orange if it's from the clay. That never made much sence to me.

[tupinambis]

I've seen many tegus with the orange belly, but I've never seen it as a seasonal change. In fact, I've never seen a seasonal colour change in tegus whatsoever. Colour changes going from young to adult, yes. The orange belly is present year long in the ones I've kept/seen, and didn't fade or get stronger with hibernation.